The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-27
NEW YORK LETTER.

NEW YORK, December 17.--Mayor Hewitt
received letter which said that q house con-
tanning barroom, a restaurant and big hall
had been given over to remarkable revelries /;
that feature of the dances was the presence
of many young girls, whose costumes were de-
scribed as represensible; that at midnight the
doors were locked against intruders, even the
police, and scene of wine drinking and eat
ing ensued and the writer added that, if his
honor felt like interfering, he could send a re-
Spouse to a certain address, whereupon the
establishment would be pointed out. Mr.
Hewitt had lately been ordering raids upon
dance houses, and the allegations here seemed
to make out case for action. So he wrote for
particulars, and got an explanation that it was
all joke. The place meant was Demonicos
and the occasions were the three respondent
debutante balls which have thus far this sea-
son agitated the most pretentious society. l
don't get this news from the mayors office,
but from the perpetrators of the joke, n young
lady friend of the Misses Hewitt, who had bet
pound of candy on the success of her hoax.
but am bound to say" said Mr.. Hewitt,
that the characteristics of fashionable ball ,
if copied exactly by unapproved people in
condemned places, might demand official at
tention."
Fashionable women of benevolence ought
not to be in the least discouraged by criticism,
and 1t is with no idea of condemnation that l
describe their newest within. Ladies of the
Vanderbilt family have magnfcently endow-
ed woman's hospital, the Astors have done
the same for cancer hospital, and these
notable examples have set others at work in
smaller ways of the same kind.
But 1T is almost comcal TO see the swell phil
anthropists eagerly searching for beneficiares,
they seem ambitious to secure the worst posi-
BILE cases, and are downright proud when they
ind something horrible or unique. AT an af-
.ternoon tea over cups of the fragrant beverage,
and accompanied by dainty nibbe of cake, l
heard two wealthy matrcns in this kind of a
dialogue:
"Ohl have discovered the most delightful
subject you can imagine for my bed at the hos
pltal Tor the crippled and maimed-a boy with
one leg like a and the other like an S. They
are going to straighten him out, aud / expect
there will be report in the medical journals"
But you ought to see, said the other, tho
frightful tumor that have discovered over in
avenue A to send to the Womens Invalid
Home. Is your tea sweet enough, my dear?"
Good society has one ballet dancer on the
stage this week, and in meretricious bur-
lesque, too. She ls Bonfanti, and this is her
first emergence from retirement in about two
years. In one of the discussions of the Soro-
sis club, incidental to some topic set for debate,
one of the women members made an indiscreet
reference to q danseuse as person outside the
pale of responsibility. After a slight pause a
..digniffed and handsome old matron one of the
earliest members of Sorosis, arose and began
to speak. 1t was Mrs. Sophia Hoffman, Of
swell family. She told in simple, direct Ian
noble life OF her dead sons widow, Eonfanti.
This famous leader of the ballet the daueh-
ter-n-law of Sophia Hoffman, has been a re-
spected member of the circle in which she
moved, and her son, Sophia Hoifmans grand
child, is being educated and reared in the most
approved style. Mrs. Hoffman made no OK
travagant eulogy in the course of her remarks
and did not in the slightest degree show any
resentment at the offensive Etterances of her
associate member. When she had finished her
simple defense OF the woman and dancer
there was not dry eye in tho rooms
The death of Mrs. John Jacob Astor and the
subsequent elevation OF Mrs. William Astor
to the leadership Of New York society," recalls
the fact that this enormously wealthy family
has in later generations become rather numcr-
Gus III its membership. Its hold, in fact, upon
society at large is due as mach today from its
ramihcations in various families rs to the great
wealth OF the original members. IT IS prob
ably safe to say that not one direct member of
the Aston family, whether bearing the name or
not, is employed or associated with anyone who
IS employed in earning q living by labor or
commercial business. The AStors, since the
old furrier died and left his business Of export
ing and carrying in other hands, have devoted
their means, and such energies they chose
to put into the business, into purchasing and
holding real estate. They are extensive buyers
and rare sellers. The recognized head Of the
family has been for years Mr.. JOHN Jacob
Astor, the widower of the lady who has just
died He is about sixty-seyen years old and
fairly wei preserved. Such little business
activity as he has permitted to himself during
the course Of his life he still maintains. This
means regular visits to his Office and the super
vision OF its affairs to tho eXtcnt, at least,
Of drawing his income and directing,
IN general way, its disbursement lie lives
on the southwest corner of Fifth avenue and
Thirty fourth street, in a house that is UMPIRE
tentious IN its external appearance, and partic-
uarly modest in comparison with the marble
palace Of 3he late Alexander Stewart, just
across the way. Mrs. William Astor
will become the leader OF New York society.
The manner in which this lady is distinguished
from the other Astors. is by the marking of
her visiting cards, and 10y the printing OF her
name upon social invitations, etc. Tie head
OF the family Is known simply as Mrs. stor,"
and any other Aston in the family must place
her initial, OF the given name of her husband
before the word "Astor" upon her cards, or on
other social documents.
In certain ways, she is better fitted than her
sister-in-law was, TO be the leadcrof New y Ork
society. Because she enjoys festivities much
more and is q more yiYacious actor in them.
She has four living children. Her oldest
daughter, Mrs. James j. Van Allen, has been
dead about six years. Her second daughter
Helen, is now Mrs. Roosevelt Roosevelt. This
gentleman Of the double name is an ideal
specimen of stawari aTistocracy, and most of
his energies are devoted 10 the exercises Of the
country club. He is Of course man OF great
wealth and devotes no time 10 business.
The third daughter in this family, for
merly Miss Augusta Astor, is now Mrs. Cole
man Drayton. She has two children The
daughter Helen, just referred to has three. An
other daughter, Carry, Is now Mrs. Oime VIII
son, and the remaining child Of this union Is
John Jacob Astor, Jr., who graduated recent
~ from Harvard college and made his first
plunge in New York society this fall.
The combined wealth of this remarkable
family probably stands without a parallel in
the world. ~ has been the steady cndeayor
OF the living members Of the family to under
estimate their possessions. in order that they
might not arouse the too bitter Jealousy Of
that class Of the population which
looks inimically 81 hDarded wealth.
For this reason JJhu Jacob Astor
has never given amy authority for statements
~ his wealth that p1t the i.2ures beyond one
hundred million dollar. and ordinarily, this
sum Is looked upon 9s tho limit Of his poses
sous; nevertheless, IL is 70 conservative osti-
mate, because thl family Is constantly buying
new real estate rs de incoa r.. if tue shapc Of
rents, brings shout an accumulation of actual
cash much greater ihan they can conveniently
dispose of. But taking one hundred million
dollars ~ "A basis ard adding 10 y the fortune
Of his brother william, which Is more tran
haii "a great, ana the fortunes possessed by the
husbands Of the married daughters Di the fam
lily, there would be a total that could not fall
short NJ two hundred aud City million dollars.
CLARA BELLE.